Adeleke Accuses Federal Government of Unfair Treatment Toward Osun State Despite Regional Ties

 Adeleke Accuses Federal Government of Unfair Treatment Toward Osun State Despite Regional Ties

Date: October 30, 2025

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the unfair treatment of Osun State by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite the existing cooperation between both tiers of government.

Adeleke Accuses Federal Government of Unfair Treatment Toward Osun State Despite Regional Ties

Speaking through his deputy, Mr. Kola Adewusi, during the South-West Stakeholders’ Dialogue held in Akure, Ondo State, the governor alleged that the Federal Government has continued to withhold local government funds belonging to Osun State, in defiance of a valid court order.

“Rule of Law Replaced by Rule of the Thumb” — Adeleke

Governor Adeleke lamented what he termed the politicisation of federal power, which, according to him, threatens peaceful intergovernmental relations and the stability of democracy in Nigeria.

He said,

“A troubling dimension was introduced earlier this year when the rule of law was replaced with the rule of the thumb. In Osun, federal power is being used outside the constitutional framework, and this poses a serious threat to democracy.”

The governor alleged that certain security agencies in Osun State protect members of the ruling party at the federal level, even when their actions contradict the law. He claimed that federal political operatives had openly boasted about their ability to use security agencies to intimidate or harass state officials, undermining the democratic process.

Osun’s Local Government Funds “Seized Without Court Order”

Adeleke further alleged that the Federal Government had seized Osun’s local government funds without any court order, thereby depriving local councils of the resources needed for grassroots development.

“Duly elected local government officials were prevented from assuming office, while those removed by a subsisting court order were reinstated through federal interference,” he said, describing the situation as “a violation of democratic principles.”

Federal Partisanship and Regional Development

Governor Adeleke also criticized what he described as partisan bias in the Federal Government’s dealings with Osun State, despite President Tinubu being from the South-West region.

“Our olive branch for cooperation is constantly rejected because of political partisanship. Federal interactions with Osun are now determined by party affiliation rather than fairness or justice,” he lamented.

Adeleke urged South-West governors to unite beyond party lines and work collectively for the region’s growth. He praised the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for fostering cooperation among the states.

Call for Regional Unity and Infrastructure Development

The governor called for a strategic partnership between the South-West states and the Federal Government to develop a circular cargo railway project that would strengthen trade and regional integration.

“The South-West must rise above partisan considerations. Development should come first, regardless of which political party governs each state,” Adeleke concluded.